How much space for chickens

20 years ago

I am planning on getting a few chickens for our new farm. I think four or five chickens and maybe one rooster would be plenty. There are only two of us. How much indoor space would this require? I would like to let them out in the daytime to help keep the bugs down, how much outdoor space would they need for days when they can't be out? Also, here in Ohio winters can be cold, will they require heat in their coop during the winter?

Thanks,

Bub

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Comments (3)

seamommy
20 years ago
For a flock that small you would want to give them at least an 8' X 8' pen. Eventually they will clean out every blade of grass from that area though and will beg to be let out of the pen. For their safety at night they will need to be confined to a coop with a solid door that latches. If you are letting them out in the daytime you will need to be around or else expect to lose some or all of them to predators like hawks and coyotes. Also they will make hash out of any flower beds, because that will be their favorite place to look for bugs. My chickens dug up my roses and hydrangeas and tossed the poor little plants completely out of the beds, until I laid chicken wire under the mulch around their root zones. I love my chickens though and really enjoy having them. And, we never run out of eggs any more.
Cheryl
fancifowl
20 years ago
The books recommend 4 square feet per large fowl(indoor). Most experience persons will allow at least 6 sq. ft. I allow 4 or more per bantam. The birds will remain in better health and be happier with the most space possible.
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Roberta_z5
20 years ago
This is the way we are doing it and I know it can't work for everyone. There are definitely drawbacks if you don't have the space. We allow our birds to free range completely. I have massive perennial gardens and hybridize daylilies. With all the people who warned me that "they will be worse than an invasion of locusts" etc. I have been amazed at how helpful these chickens are at cultivating my gardens. BTW, they go into their coop at night and are locked in so we don't need to worry about night-time predators.

I am sure the difference is that these birds have a huge area so don't need to dessimate one spot, but they are just amazing as free labor. I am so enjoying them. Once caveat is that you don't want to be planting new seedlings or seeds without fencing the beds in until the plants get large. In the established beds, the chickens just go in and around the plants and cultivate, poop and eat bugs!

We were at the bottom of the learning curve and I was ready for anything. We have been pleasantly surprised and are planning on getting more chickens soon!